Drop in liner for a mop bucket to prevent cross contamination caused by harsh chemicals

ABSTRACT

In combination with a mop bucket having a wringer attachment secured to a top rim portion thereof for wringing excess liquid from a mop, which excess liquid is drained back into an interior portion of the mop bucket prior to a use of the mop. The improvement comprises a molded one piece replaceable liner member disposed within the interior portion of such mop bucket. The molded one piece replaceable liner member exhibiting each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined size and is manufactured from a predetermined light weight material. Such molded replaceable one piece liner member prevents harsh and corrosive type chemicals from coming into intimate contact with the interior portion of such mop bucket during use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/719,033 filed Sep. 21, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to cleaning equipment used in both offices and industrial applications as well as homes and, more particularly, this invention relates to a mop bucket having a drop in liner system for protecting the bucket against corrosion and rust due to harsh chemicals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the art, mop buckets are in widespread use in cleaning offices, public wash rooms, industrial areas and homes. These prior art mop buckets are normally steel having a mop wringing device attached to the upper rim for removing excess water and detergent from the mop while simultaneously draining the excess liquid back into the bucket.

These buckets have a limited life due to corrosion caused by harsh chemicals which may be required for a particular cleaning job. Such harsh chemicals generally cause corrosion which will eat thru the sidewall of the bucket thus creating a leak which requires the replacement of the mop bucket. These style mop buckets are generally more expensive than normal buckets used to carry materials therein.

Another problem with the prior art type mop buckets is that some of the harsh chemicals may still be present in such mop bucket when used on another job. This is particularly the case where such job may not require there use. In fact these harsh chemicals may even damage the surface being cleaned because such surface was not meant to come into contact with such chemical cleaning compounds. For example, many commercial type cleaning companies clean office buildings, industrial buildings, public restrooms as well as homes. Certain industrial cleaning agents used in the commercial area are not suitable for use in homes because they may cause damage to linoleum type floors found in many homes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides in combination with a mop bucket having a wringer attachment secured to the top of such mop bucket for wringing excess liquid from the mop. This excess liquid is drained back into the interior portion of the mop bucket prior to use of the mop. The improvement comprises a molded one piece replaceable liner member which is disposed within an interior portion of such mop bucket. The molded one piece replaceable liner member having each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined size and will be manufactured from a predetermined light weight material. Such molded replaceable one piece liner member substantially prevents any harsh and corrosive type chemicals from coming into intimate contact with such interior portion of such mop bucket during use.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a replaceable one piece molded liner member for a mop bucket which will substantially minimize contact of any harsh and corrosive type chemicals with the interior portion of such mop bucket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable one piece molded liner member for a mop bucket which is relatively economical to produce.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable one piece molded liner member for a mop bucket which is easy to replace.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable one piece molded liner member for a mop bucket which will exhibit a relatively long life.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable one piece molded liner member for a mop bucket which can be produced in a variety of colors.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable one piece molded liner member for a mop bucket which will substantially minimize accidental damage to certain floors due to harsh chemicals remaining in a mop bucket from a previous job.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable one piece liner member for a mop bucket which can be retrofitted to existing mop buckets.

In addition to the various objects and advantages which have been described with some degree of specificity above, it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mop bucket having each of a presently preferred liner member disposed therein and the mop wringer attachment secured to the upper rim thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mop bucket having a presently preferred liner member disposed therein with the mop wringer attachment removed from the upper rim thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mop bucket showing the presently preferred liner member as it will be dropped into such mop bucket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing Figures.

Now refer more particularly to FIGS. 1-3. Illustrated therein is a presently preferred embodiment of a mop bucket, generally designated 10. Mop bucket 10 is manufactured from a predetermined material and has a wringer attachment, generally designated 20, secured to a top rim portion 12 of such mop bucket 10 for wringing excess liquid (not shown) from a mop (not shown), which such excess liquid is drained back into an interior portion 14 of such mop bucket 10 prior to a use of such mop. In the most presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the mop bucket 10 includes rollers 16 attached to the bottom surface 18 thereof.

In combination with such mop bucket 10 there is, preferably, a molded one piece replaceable liner member, generally designated 30. This molded one piece replaceable liner member 30 is positioned within such interior portion 14 of such mop bucket 10. The molded one piece replaceable liner member 30 additionally exhibits each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined size and is manufactured from a predetermined light weight material. This molded replaceable one piece liner member 30 prevents any harsh and corrosive type chemicals from coming into intimate contact with such interior portion 14 of the mop bucket 10 during use.

Preferably, such predetermined shape of the molded one piece replaceable liner member 30 closely approximates a shape of such interior portion 14 of said mop bucket 10. Normally, such predetermined shape of the molded one piece replaceable liner member 30 will be either generally round or generally rectangular.

Depending to a large extent on whether or not the mop bucket 10 is to be used in a commercial or residential type application it will be manufactured from one of metal and plastic. When the mop bucket 10 is to be used in a commercial application it will preferably be metal which will preferably be steel and more specifically the metal will be galvanized. On the other hand if the mop bucket 10 is to be used in a residential application it will preferably be a plastic mop bucket 10 which can be manufactured in a variety of different colors.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention the molded one piece replaceable liner member 30 includes a lip member 22 disposed around a perimeter thereof and connected to an upper edge thereof.

The predetermined light weight material of such molded one piece replaceable liner member 30 is a plastic selected to resist harsh cleaning chemicals, such as cleaning agents. Such plastic can exhibit any predetermined color.

It is further presently preferred that the wringer attachment 20 is designed to be removable from the top rim portion 12 of such mop bucket 10.

While in accordance with the patent statutes both a presently preferred as well as a number of alternative embodiments of the invention have been described in sufficient detail to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

1. In combination with a mop bucket, manufactured from a predetermined material and having a wringer attachment secured to a top rim portion of said mop bucket for wringing excess liquid from a mop, which said excess liquid is drained back into an interior portion of said mop bucket prior to a use of said mop, the improvement comprising a molded one piece replaceable liner member disposed within said interior portion of said mop bucket, said molded one piece replaceable liner member exhibiting each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined size and manufactured from a predetermined light weight material, said molded replaceable one piece liner member preventing harsh and corrosive type chemicals from coming into intimate contact with said interior portion of said mop bucket during use.
 2. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said mop bucket is manufactured from one of metal and plastic.
 3. The combination, according to claim 2, wherein said metal is steel.
 4. The combination, according to claim 3, wherein said steel is galvanized.
 5. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said wringer attachment is removable from top rim portion of said mop bucket.
 6. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape of said molded one piece replaceable liner member closely approximates a shape of said interior portion of said mop bucket.
 7. The combination, according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined shape of said molded one piece replaceable liner member is selected from generally round and rectangular.
 8. The combination, according to claim 7, wherein said molded one piece replaceable liner member includes a lip member disposed around a perimeter thereof and connected to an upper edge thereof.
 9. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined light weight material is a plastic selected to resist harsh cleaning chemicals.
 10. The combination, according to claim 9, wherein said plastic can exhibit any predetermined color.
 11. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said chemicals are cleaning agents.
 12. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said mop bucket further includes rollers attached to the bottom thereof. 